goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Catch More Flies

By Linda Tancs

There’s an old Italian proverb that says you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. In other words, you’ll get on better in life if you’re kind. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Popular campaigns like Random Acts of Kindness and Pay It Forward encourage us to be kind. In Ephesians 4:32, to be kind is mentioned first. Kindness benefits the one being kind (Proverbs 11:17) and honors God. So spare the vinegar and use more honey.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Forgiveness is a Gift

By Linda Tancs

You’ve no doubt heard it said that forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It might sound like a cliché, but it’s grounded in the Bible. In fact, God Himself said that He blots out our sins for His “own sake” (Isaiah 43:25). Imagine that! Even God forgives sin for His own sake, for His own welfare. Forgive others for your own sake. If God can do it, then so can you.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

True Wealth

By Linda Tancs

How do you define wealth? The dictionary defines it as material prosperity. Are you wealthy in what matters to you? That was the condition of a rich man in a parable told by Jesus. The man was so successful that he didn’t have enough space to store his harvest. So he tore down his barns and built bigger ones, only to die that very night and bring it all to naught. The point of the story is that the man defined wealth by what mattered to him and not by what mattered to God (Luke 12:16-21). Be rich in what matters to God. The rest will wither like grass (1 Peter 1:24).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Presence of Christmas

By Linda Tancs

Christmas is a gift-giving season, as anyone knows. But in the hustle and bustle, we often forget that it’s not about the presents–it’s about the Presence (Luke 2:1-20). The Presence gives us many presents: gifts of love, hope, peace, joy and salvation, just to name a few. Enjoy His presents this Christmas.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

God’s Work

By Linda Tancs

When someone is called to a noble or charitable task, they’re praised for “doing God’s work.” God’s work reaches beyond charitable endeavors, though. Every undertaking should reflect a dependence on God in keeping with His perspective and will as reflected in His word (Psalm 127:11). Do you work with and for God or to satisfy your own ends? Be fruitful, not fruitless.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Do the Right Thing

By Linda Tancs

It’s been over 30 years since the release of director Spike Lee’s provocative film, Do The Right Thing. The title of that movie got me thinking about what doing the right thing looks like. The Book of Micah (6:8) sets it out nicely. It’s about doing what is right to other people. Being kind. Living with humility, respect and integrity. Trusting God. What can you add to the list?

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Don’t Pretend to be Busy

By Linda Tancs

Have you ever watched someone pretend to be busy? Maybe it was a student in a classroom actively typing away on a laptop, only the notes were actually emails to friends. Or maybe you’ve caught a coworker jotting down notes in a business meeting, only to find that the notes had nothing to do with the meeting. Pretending to be busy is slacking off. Maybe that’s why Jesus got so angry with the fig tree that didn’t actually bear fruit (Matthew 21:18-19). It had all the outward appearances of being fruitful until a closer inspection revealed it wasn’t fulfilling its intended purpose. Don’t be a slacker, like a student, or a colleague or a fig tree. It’s just as destructive in God’s eyes as violence (Proverbs 18:9).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

A Fresh Cut

By Linda Tancs

Circumcision was enjoined upon the biblical patriarch Abraham and his descendants as a token of the everlasting covenant concluded with him by God for all generations (Genesis 17:13). The New Covenant brings a new circumcision, one not reliant on the law of Moses but nonetheless foretold by Ezekiel (36:26) and Jeremiah (31:33). It’s a circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29), a renewal of the Spirit resulting in a cutting away of the old nature in favor of a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

An Attitude of Gratitude

By Linda Tancs

A Jewish prayer on awakening is “Modeh ani l’fanecha,” which literally means “Thanks I give to Your face.” What’s notable about this is that the word “thanks” is rendered first (modeh) rather than “I give thanks” (ani modeh), which is grammatically expected. The intent of this prayer is that gratitude is the first thing that should come out of one’s mouth. In popular culture, we’re always exhorted to have an attitude of gratitude. More importantly, it’s a biblical mandate (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Don’t treat an upcoming holiday like Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) as your big day to be grateful. Make gratitude a habit each day of the year.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Relax

By Linda Tancs

I have a sculpture of a pelican sitting atop a rock emblazoned with the word “RELAX” in large type. I love the symbolism of it, reminding me to be still, just as Jesus said to the waves on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39). It means that I don’t need to know the particulars of how, when or where God will do His work in my life. I only need to relax, knowing that He will do what needs to be done at the right time. Your role in life isn’t to play all the parts yourself. Play your part, and let God do His part (Psalm 32:8).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.